9 Best Nutcracker Reviews: Quick and Easy Nut Cracking Devices

By Diana Heath

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If you enjoy eating freshly cracked nuts, a nutcracker is a handy device. Cracking nuts with a hammer is messy and frustrating but a nutcracker offers you the quickest way to crack and shell nuts anywhere. Watching the television at home, around the campfire, or while you are backpacking around the globe.

Our Top Pick for the Best Nutcracker

With a super cool design and an effortless nut-cracking modus operandi, the Drosselmeyer is an essential nutcracker for any nut-loving enthusiast. Whatever type of nuts you love to eat, this superbly crafted award-winning nutcracker from Sweden takes all of the hard work out of cracking and shelling nuts.

Get Cracking with a Versatile Nutcracker

The humble nut is a versatile fruit. It can be used for cooking, baking or just as a healthy tasty snack. So if you love eating nuts, a nutcracker is designed to crack and shell all types of small and large nuts like Pecan nuts, Brazil nuts, English or Black Walnuts. A highly versatile food preparation device, the nutcracker can also be used to crack open crustaceans shells like lobster tails, shellfish, crab or oysters.

How to Choose the Best Nutcracker

Here are some important features to help you find your perfect nutcracker.

3 Types of Nutcrackers

There are 3 main types of nutcrackers: lever-action table-top, plier-style, or turn-screw.

1. Single Lever Tabletop Nutcracker

If you plan to use the nutcracker to crack and shell a lot of nuts, a table-top lever-action nutcracker is the best choice. They have a heavy-duty design and allow you to adjust the nutcracker to suit small and large nuts.

Lever-action tabletop nutcrackers, like the Hiware, is designed to be placed on a flat surface like a kitchen countertop. You activate the cracking process by pressing the lever down to create the right amount of pressure to crack the nut open. These types of nutcrackers can be used for small, medium and large nuts. Some models may not be designed for cracking large nuts with extra tough shells like the Black Walnut.

2. Plier-Style Nutcracker

The plier shaped nutcracker, like the OXO Good Grips, is the most common type of nutcracker. It has two handles and strong jaws and sharp teeth that easily crack open the nut's shell and it is especially useful for cracking open hard-shelled nuts. The only real downside of this type of nutcracker is that it can be messy to use.

3. Turn-Screw Nutcracker

The turn-screw nutcracker, like the ELO “Mushroom”, is ideal for people with arthritis as you do not have to apply the same pressure with a lever or plier-style nutcracker. Just a few turns of the screw and your favorite nuts with be perfectly cracked. The problem with a turn-screw nutcracker is that it may not be powerful enough for cracking nuts with thick, hard shells.

Overall Design of a Nutcracker

Construction

Zinc, steel or die-cast aluminum nutcrackers are strong and durable, so they are a great choice for people who enjoy eating a lot of nuts. Some nutcrackers have brightly colored plastic handles which feel comfortable in your hand, but the material can get slippery when wet and the plastic can crack over time.

Wooden nutcrackers, like the ELO “Mushroom” beech wood nutcracker, will look amazing on your dining table but the wood can get damaged easily from heavy-duty use. You will also have to maintain the wood to preserve its beautiful finish.

Comfort

If you suffer from arthritis or have weak wrists, look for a nutcracker that has an effortless nut cracking design like a lever-action device, a turn-screw nutcracker, or the award-winning Drosselmeyer nutcracker.

Storage

If countertop space or storage space is a problem in your kitchen or you want to take the nutcracker away on a camping trip, the design of the nutcracker is especially important. Most plier types can be stored in a drawer or in a backpack, but tabletop versions will need extra cupboard or shelf space.

Best Nutcracker Reviews

1. Hiware Nut Cracker Tool

This heavy-duty nutcracker from Hiware is a great choice for any nut lover as it cracks a variety of nuts such as Pecans, Hazelnuts, Almonds, Walnuts, or Brazil Nuts.

The Hiware nutcracker is made from nickel plated all steel construction which is strong and sturdy and highly durable.

It is mounted on a beautiful hardwood base that sits securely on any kitchen countertop or table.

You do not have to use a lot of pressure, which makes the Hiware a great choice for people who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis. The nutcracker is easy to use. Place your favorite nut inside the unit, hold the smooth non-slip wooden handle and press down on the nut. In just seconds the nut will be cracked and ready for you to enjoy. The nutcracker's threaded cone can be adjusted to fit a range of nuts from small to medium size.

To keep the nutcracker clean from any leftover shell fragments, Hiware includes 4 bonus picks.

The Hiware nutcracker is covered by a 2-year limited warranty. It is exceptional value for money and will make an excellent gift idea for a birthday or kitchen tea celebration.

2. Duke's Easy Pecan and Nut Cracker

The tabletop lever-action nutcracker has a long vintage handle that gives you extra leverage for cracking large sized nuts. Whether is small Pecans or larger Walnuts, you can use the adjustable threaded cone to fit different kernel sizes.

The nutcracker features a precision machined nickel plated all steel construction and it is mounted to a beautiful hardwood baseboard. It measures 9.1 x 2.5 x 2.4 inches and weighs a total of 1.5 pounds, so while it has a considerable weight, it will not take up a lot of room on the kitchen countertop. If you like to eat a lot of nuts, you can even permanently mount the device on a countertop but the mounting hardware is not included.

Duke's nutcracker is fast and efficient and takes all the hard work out of cracking nuts. Just insert the nut you want to crack, adjust the threading screw and press down with the easy-to-grip wooden lever.

There are no tools required for assembly. Simply screw the handle Into the nutcracker unit and it is all ready for you to start cracking nuts.

3. Get Crackin' Nut Cracker

Whether you love to eat Black Walnuts, English Walnuts, Pecans, Hazelnuts, Filbert nuts, Hickory nuts, or Macadamias, this powerhouse nutcracker can smash through even the toughest of shells.

It may have a simple design but it makes nut-cracking effortless. The tabletop nutcracker features a heavy-duty design that allows it to process a large number of shells and its longer handle gives you extra leverage when you need it. For perfect nutcracking action, the New “V” Groove design cracks shell more uniformly, which saves you from having to remove leftover shell fragments.

Made in the USA, the Get Crackin' Nutcracker has a sturdy, rugged hand-welded black coated steel construction that is built to last.

The nutcracker does not require any assembly and there is no need to mount it onto a countertop so it offers you a lot of portability and storage options. You will need a sturdy surface to put it on so that it stays level and you can maintain the right amount of leverage on the handle.

This type of nutcracker can create a mess of broken shells so for large amounts of nut cracking, it is best to use the device outside or on top of a layer of newspapers.

4. The Texan York Nut Sheller – Nut Cracker

The Texan York Nutcracker delivers a high nut cracking performance. It features a strong tempered steel construction and the easy-open plier design enables you to crack most nuts with ease. Just a small amount of pressure on the easy-to-grip contoured bright red plastic handles and the sharp blades in the heavy-duty jaws will crack the toughest of shells. Its effortless design means you can crack any type of nut even if you have weak wrists or arthritis.

Specially designed to minimize any mess, the sharp blades are set at an angle and the red plastic shield stops the shells from scattering over the countertop.

You can use it to remove the shells on crab and lobster claws. Simply remove the shield. The nutcracker is very lightweight at 0.4 lbs so you can even get the kids in on the nut cracking action.

The bright red color is easy to spot in the kitchen drawer, camping gear or backpack.

5. OXO Good Grips Nut and Seafood Cracker

The nut and seafood cracker has a simple easy-to-use plier design. Just place the nut in between the jaws, grip the two handles and squeeze. The result? Perfectly cracked nuts.

With a solid zinc frame, the 6¼-inch Good Grips nutcracker offers you maximum durability during the nut cracking process. Efficient and powerful, the grooved opening grabs any size nut securely, while the center is designed to pinch crab legs and lobster tails until they snap. The strong metal teeth crush and split the toughest nuts and larger sized kernels.

The non-slip rubber grips on either side absorb the pressure evenly while you squeeze and crack the nuts.

With a polished silver finish, the Good Grips nutcracker looks stylish. Its slimline minimalistic design means it can be stored in the kitchen drawer. The nutcracker is a great choice for travelers or campers and it packs away easily in your backpack or camping gear.

Once you have finished cracking nuts, the Good Grips nutcracker can go straight into the dishwasher.

6. Winco Nutcracker and Lobster Opener 6-pack

The Winco plier-style nutcracker is designed for a professional commercial kitchen, so it has the nut-cracking power you need to process all types of nuts.

It features a heavy-duty polished chrome plated zinc alloy which is strong and sturdy and durable. The double jaws and their jagged ridges can crack tough hard nuts and crustacean shells. The easy-to-grip handles feel comfortable and they open wide to accommodate both small and large nuts.

To keep your nutcracker clean, just pop it into the dishwasher.

Winco offers their nutcrackers in packs of 6, and you can choose either a 1-pack or a 2-pack of 6 nutcrackers.

7. Drosselmeyer Nutcracker

If you have arthritis or weak wrists or you just want an effortless approach to nut cracking, the hand-held Drosselmeyer Nutcracker is a fantastic device.

Made and designed in Sweden, the Drosselmeyer is widely regarded as the best and most powerful nutcracker on the market. This cool looking tool provides a quick, clean and easy way to crack nuts, and it will make the perfect gift for all occasions.

The nutcracker is made out of strong, durable 100% recyclable zinc and it comes in three separate pieces which are easily detachable for simple cleaning and maintenance. As it has a seamless design without pins or screws, there is no need to worry about the parts detaching while you crack hard nuts like walnuts or Brazil nuts.

The secret to its nut-cracking success is Drosselmyer's award-winning design. It is the first handheld nutcracker to have a double lever action and a container to collect the shells.

One of the other major highlights of the amazing Drosselmeyer Nutcracker is its ergonomic energy saving, no-mess, no-fuss design. If you suffer from arthritis or have a weak wrist, the nutcracker's unique ergonomic handle design requires a minimal amount of pressure to crack nuts and it can accommodate nuts of any size. As it expertly cracks the shell, the nut remains whole and undamaged.

You can also keep your countertop free of leftover shells as the elongated container collects any left-over shells and there is no over-spraying of nuts and shells.

8. Anwenk Heavy Duty Nutcracker

This spring-loaded plier-style Nutcracker from Anwenk offers you a quicker, easier and more convenient way of cracking nuts than a traditional nutcracker.

The heavy-duty enameled die-cast aluminum is strong and the high-quality wood handles allow you to maintain a tight grip for perfect nut cracking action. If you love to eat hazelnuts, almonds or walnuts in front of a crackling fire in the heart of winter, the smooth wooden handles will not chill your hand as opposed to cold steel handles.

The plier handles open to 2-inches wide to accommodate large nuts. The cup-shaped hole has inside ridges that tightly grip a nut and cracks it open fast and efficiently with minimal effort.

For extra hard-to-crack nuts that will not open, rotate the nut and crack it once or twice. You can even use the nutcracker as a bottle opener.

Pros

High-quality

Great price

Quick, easy and more convenient than traditional plier-style nutcrackers

Ideal for medium to large nuts

Strong and durable enameled die-cast aluminum

Easy-to-grip and smooth wooden handle does not chill your hand in winter

Handles open to 2-inch wide to accommodate large nuts

Strong inside ridges tightly grip nuts

Cup-shaped holder stops the shells from flying out

Fast and efficient cracking ability with minimal effort

Can be used as a bottle opener

Cons

Not ideal for Black Walnuts, Macadamia or similar extra hard shell nuts

9. EFO Wooden “Mushroom” Nutcracker

A stylish addition to any dining table, the turn-screw style mushroom-shaped nutcracker is handcrafted from 100% beech wood. The cracking tool that is inserted into the body of the nutcracker has a rounded dark brown stained wooden top.

The EFO is perfect for cracking all types of nuts like Walnuts, Hazelnuts, Almonds, Brazil Nuts, and Pecans, except Macadamia nuts.

With a no-mess-no-fuss design, the nutcracker minimizes clean up time. To avoid making a mess on the dining table or kitchen countertop, simply cover the 1.6-inch nut cracking space with your hand.

If you have arthritis or weak wrists, you can use the EFO nutcracker with ease as it requires a small amount of effort to crack nuts. You can use it safely as the wood has no sharp edges and it cracks the nut's shell delicately without damaging its delicious core.

The compact EFO nutcracking device measures 2.4 inches wide, with a height of 3.5 inches and a weight of 0.27 lbs, so it is easy to store in the kitchen cupboard.

To keep the nutcracker clean, wash the woodwork with organic detergents, not harsh chemical detergents, and wipe it with a dry towel. In order to preserve its beautiful wood finish, occasionally treat the wood with olive oil. To avoid deformation of the wood, do not leave the nutcracker exposed to heat or sunshine or soaking in water.

EFO offers a 100%, lifetime money back guarantee on their super little nutcracker.

Our Top Pick for the Best Nutcracker

With a super cool design and an effortless nut-cracking modus operandi, the Drosselmeyer is an essential nutcracker for any nut-loving enthusiast. Whatever type of nuts you love to eat, this superbly crafted award-winning nutcracker from Sweden takes all of the hard work out of cracking and shelling nuts.